Tower defense games are nothing new. Neither, for that matter, is steampunk. But how about putting two great tastes that taste great together together? Steampunk Tower has you fighting off waves of steam-powered tanks and floating dirigibles. Hurry up and build those defenses (including a Tesla-inspired lightning gun). Steampunk Tower's unique system allows you to take your weapons offline for repair and reloading. Just be sure you've got a few big guns in reserve as your tower gets bigger and bigger. Those artfully rusty enemies aren't going to give you any slack!

Scores of enthusiasts attended Captain Lionel Gearpunk’s Steam-Powered Ball, as evidenced by the folks who crowded the stage for our costume contest. The cosmetic interpretations of steampunk were superlative, as were the entertainers.

First up, Small Game fronted by Emma Crane. Then, the Ladies’ Society of Grenadiers, a band formed especially for this show. Film Editor Devin D. O’Leary took over hosting duties and introduced burlesque from aerialist September Smith and Godiva Bleu. Bianca Lily and Strong Man Sam treated the gallery to a steampunk-inspired dance. Squash Blossom Boys, not pictured here, polished off the night.

Sheley brought her steampunk-themed wares, and the Alibi gifted admirers with free passes to see a sneak preview of Hugo, a film for your young ones by Martin Scorsese.

The Weekly Alibi’s Group Hug is throwing a steampunk-themed ball tonight at the Launchpad (618 Central SW) with Squash Blossom Boys, September Smith, Godiva Bleu, The Ladies' Society of Grenadiers, Small Game, DJ Caterwaul, Bianca Lily and Strong Man Sam. Tickets to this 21-and-over event are $5. Find out more here, and RSVP here.

And the first people at the party can get passes to see Martin Scorsese’s Hugo the night before it hits theaters. The preview screening is Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. We’ve also got Hugo bookmarks, playing cards, journals and posters to give away. We’ll have a table set up inside the Launchpad with all the goods.

Doors open at 8 p.m. for Captain Lionel Gearpunk’s Steam-Powered Ball tonight at Launchpad (618 Central SW). The event is 21+, and the cover is $5. There will be steampunk-inspired music, burlesque and dance.

But back to Hugo, a film fans of steampunk eagerly await. From the Alibi’s film editor, Devin D. O’Leary in this week’s Holiday Film Guide:

Martin Scorsese directing a kids’ film? Why not? Based on the award-winning book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, the film spins the steampunk-inspired tale of an orphan who lives in a Parisian train station in 1930. He uncovers a mystery involving his late father, filmmaker Georges Méliès and a humanoid automaton.

Hugo will be shown in 3D, though Century Rio 24 was unable to say how many dimensions the preview screening would have. Scorsese came out full force in favor of 3D movies last week and said holograms are next.

“As I sit here now, I see you in 3-D. So why belittle that part of our existence? Why not use it?"

Details on his closing reception tomorrow and some photo outtakes

Last week we ran a story on artist Richard Maitland and his show, Collected Memories, on display at Gallerie Imaginarium (301 Central NW, entrance on Third Street). The list of showbiz stars Maitland collaborated with and befriended throughout his career is extensive, and the 86-year-old can talk about them with flair and gusto all day.

One anecdote that we didn’t mention is Maitland’s passion for an arguably more current movement. He says he had a bit of an awakening when he read our steampunk feature in July. “I said, My God! I'm a steampunker," says Maitland, a self-proclaimed lover of Victoriana and an obsessive collector.

If you stop by Gallerie Imaginarium tomorrow between 5 and 7 p.m., you should take the time to catch up with him. Just look for the best-dressed gent in the house. Here are some photos I took at his Rio Rancho home:

The steampunk phenomenon grinds its Victorian gears as the thematic centerpiece at New Mexico's beloved Bubonicon for 2011. The state's largest and longest-running science-fiction convention becomes a steam-powered conservatory for local and national artists, authors, filmmakers and enthusiasts. The convention takes flight at 3 p.m. today at the Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel (2910 Yale SE). Admission is $15 for Friday and Sunday and $25 for Saturday, or you can snag a three-day pass for $45 at the door ($23 if you're 14 to 17). For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit bubonicon.com.

Bubonicon, Steampunk Style

A totally killer schedule is in place for Albuquerque’s annual, homegrown festival of science fiction and fantasy. The theme of this year’s convention is steampunk, which we at the Alibi are crazy about [Feature, “Full Steam Ahead,” July 21-27]. There’s a costume contest on Saturday night, a discussion on “Steampunk Definitions: More Than Victorian Clothing,” a make-and-take workshop with gears, and vendors selling corsets, cloaks and all the other bits and bobs to fulfill your mechanical-wonder needs.